Debates of the Agreement Assembly, June 3, 1848

Berlin, Agreement Assembly. Sitting of June 3. – Sieben  
No. 6, June 6, 1848  
Neue Rheinische Zeitung.

By-elections are confirmed. Reichensperger submits the committee report on the Valdenaire affair. Valdenaire is suspected of having requisitioned horses in the neighbourhood, distributed weapons, and called for a march on Trier. Even stronger evidence came to light, and on the 9th Valdenaire was arrested, after having been elected deputy on the 8th. The committee decided unanimously that no motion should be made for suspension from custody, since a law on the inviolability of deputies had not yet been issued! On the question whether a motion for suspension from custody should be made if such a law existed (!), 4 members abstained, while the other 4 expressed the view that one could already give an opinion on the matter (so the *Zeitungshalle* reports, at any rate; it does not say how the 4 expressed their view). The opinion will be printed and distributed tomorrow. – Nees von Esenbeck moves that the Assembly take part in the procession to the grave of those who fell in March. The motion receives sufficient support to be put to the vote immediately. Loh moves that the matter be placed on the order of the day. This is adopted, and Nees’s motion is thereby defeated. – Elsner interpellates the Minister of Justice concerning the arrests of several inhabitants of Schönwalde and Hirschberg, who were released again after 4–6 weeks without judicial decision. He desires that the Minister of Justice should present the draft of the new criminal procedure code at the same time as the draft constitution. – Minister of Justice Bornemann: The draft is already available, as is a draft law for the protection of personal liberty. He will institute inquiries into the facts mentioned. Bucher’s motion for the repeal of the law of January 31, 1845 on the redemption of hereditary leasehold estates, and Krackrügge’s motion that elementary school teachers be declared civil servants and be provided with a suitable salary, are referred to the sections. – Hagen moves that, in the discussion of petitions, the persons presenting them should be invited. Adopted.

When Berends moves that the school be transformed into a state institution, Minister of Education Schwerin declares: The school will become a communal institution; measures to improve the position of elementary school teachers have already been taken; deputies of the teachers will discuss school matters with the governments. (Applause). – Grebel moves: The former Minister of the Treasury, Thile, shall be summoned before the Assembly to render account of the state treasury found by him on taking office and of its use (inextinguishable merriment). – Pokrzywnicki interpellates concerning the diplomatic negotiations with France regarding Poznań. Minister Arnim promises a reply. – Schramm moves for the abolition of secret conduct lists; Minister of Justice Bornemann states that he has forbidden the sending in of such lists.